Whether Oakland County residents are watching fireworks, heading to the beach or packing suitcases to travel this Independence Day weekend, sources from the Michigan State Police to the National Weather Service have people covered.

Meteorologist Dan Thompson at the Weather Service’s White Lake post said the bulk of the weekend forecast looks nearly pristine, with only partly cloudy skies Friday and highs in the mid-70s, and sunny skies with temperatures in the high 70s on Saturday.

However, travelers coming back home Sunday afternoon may want to be careful, as there’s a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and a higher humidity with temperatures in the low 80s, he said.

Average highs for the Fourth of July weekend are around 83 degrees, while lows sit around 64 degrees.

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Safety is key for the holiday, and last year, 17 traffic crashes resulted in 19 deaths over the holiday weekend, state officials report.

State troopers have once again launched traffic safety initiative Operation C.A.R.E., or Combined Accident Reduction Effort, and heightened patrols are underway until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 6.

State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said that instead of writing supplementary reports this weekend, troopers will be on the roadways, “looking out for drunken drivers, speeding, aggressive drivers, seat belt violators and motorists broken down on the highways.”

Gas prices are also a concern while traveling during the holiday season. Now may be a good time to fill up, as prices are down $0.06 in the metro Detroit area compared to last week, according to gasbuddy.com.

For those staying within the county this Independence Day weekend, the beach is always a fun option to relax and have fun. Pesky mosquitoes that could bring West Nile virus can be avoided by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, avoiding shaded areas and using insect repellent, county health officials said.

The Oakland County Health Division will be monitoring beach closings, too, and earlier this week closed two swimming holes — Holly Village Beach in Holly Township and Scotch Lake in West Bloomfield Township.

For an updated listing of closed beaches, residents can call the health division at 800-848-5533 or visit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality website at http://www.deq.state.mi.us/beach.